Oral Health

Brush your teeth twice a day

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Find out more about how to keep your teeth clean

Clean between your teeth

Floss or use an interdental brush every day to remove food, debris and plaque lodged between your teeth.

Cut down on sugar, and other lifestyle tips

Have a healthy lifestyle, including eating well, not smoking and limiting your alcohol and sugar intake. It’s good for your whole body, including your teeth, gums and mouth.

Brush baby teeth as soon as they come through

Start brushing a baby’s teeth as soon as they come through.

Here are tips on looking after your baby’s teeth, including the importance of avoiding sweetened foods and drinks.

Get children into a teeth-cleaning routine

Help your child have healthy teeth for life by having a good dental health routine.

Find out more about how to look after your children’s teeth

Have regular dental check-ups 

Have regular check-ups with your dentist. Do not put off going for a check-up. Detecting problems early can mean they’re easier to treat.

If problems are not treated, they may lead to damage that’s harder, or even impossible, to repair.

There are a wide range of dental treatments available. Some, such as fillings and root canal treatment, are readily available on the NHS.

Others, such as dental implants, are only available on the NHS in certain circumstances.

Find out more about dental treatments and dental check-ups.

For information on who can get free dentistry and what to expect from your dentist, see how to find an NHS dentist.

Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for about 2 minutes to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy.

Plaque is a film of bacteria that coats your teeth if you don’t brush them properly. It contributes to gum disease and tooth decay.

Tooth brushing stops plaque building up. Try to make sure you clean every surface of all your teeth.

When should I brush my teeth?

Brush your teeth twice a day for about 2 minutes each time. Brush them last thing before you go to bed, as night-time brushing is important, and on 1 other occasion.

Dental healthcare professionals may give you more advice based on your own dental health and needs.

Should I use an electric or manual toothbrush?

It doesn’t matter whether you use an electric or manual toothbrush.

They’re both equally good, as long as you clean all the surfaces of all your teeth and you use fluoride toothpaste.

But some people find it easier to clean their teeth thoroughly with an electric toothbrush.

What should I look for in a toothbrush?

For most adults, a toothbrush with a small head and a compact, angled arrangement of long and short round-end bristles is fine. Medium or soft bristles are best for most people.

But making sure you thoroughly clean your teeth at least twice a day is more important than the type of brush you use. If in doubt, ask a dental healthcare professional.

What type of toothpaste should I use?

It’s important to use a toothpaste with the right concentration of fluoride.

Check the packaging to find out how much fluoride each brand contains.

• Adults should use a toothpaste that contains at least 1,350 parts per million (ppm) fluoride.
• Children don’t need to use special children’s toothpaste. Children of all ages can use family toothpaste, as long as it contains 1,350 to 1,500ppm fluoride. Children aged 3 and under who don’t have tooth decay can use a lower strength children’s toothpaste, but make sure it contains at least 1,000ppm fluoride.
• Children under the age of 3 should use just a smear of toothpaste. Children aged 3 to 6 years should use a pea-sized blob of toothpaste. Make sure children don’t lick or eat toothpaste from the tube.

Your dentist may advise you or your child to use a toothpaste with a higher concentration of fluoride, if you need it.

How to brush your teeth

Make sure you clean all the surfaces of all your teeth, which should take about 2 minutes.

Remember to brush the inside surfaces, outside surfaces and the chewing surfaces of your teeth.

How to help children brush their teeth

Children need to be helped or supervised brushing their teeth until they’re at least 7 years old.

Get more tips on taking care of children’s teeth

Don’t rinse with water straight after toothbrushing

After brushing, spit out any excess toothpaste.

Don’t rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it’ll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste.

Rinsing dilutes it and reduces its preventative effects.

How to use dental floss

Flossing isn’t just for dislodging food wedged between your teeth.

Regular flossing may also reduce gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath by removing plaque that forms along the gum line.

It’s best to floss before brushing your teeth.

• Take 30cm to 45cm of floss or dental tape and grasp it so you have 3cm or 4cm of floss taut between your hands.
• Slip the floss or dental tape between the teeth and into the area between your teeth and gums, as far as it’ll go.
• Curve the floss into a C-shape and then gently slide it up and down each tooth to clean it and remove any food and plaque.

How to use interdental brushes

You can use interdental brushes or single-tufted brushes instead of flossing, especially if there are gaps between your teeth.

The brush should fit snugly between the teeth.

It is not advised to use wooden toothpicks to remove trapped food from between your teeth as you may damage your gums, which could lead to an infection.

Your dentist or hygienist can advise you on the best way to clean between your teeth.

Should I use mouthwash?

Using a mouthwash that contains fluoride can help prevent tooth decay.

But don’t use mouthwash (even a fluoride one) straight after brushing your teeth because it will wash away the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste left on your teeth.

Choose a different time to use mouthwash, such as after lunch.

Don’t eat or drink for 30 minutes after using a fluoride mouthwash.

From brushing their first tooth to their first trip to the dentist, here’s how to take care of your children’s teeth.

A regular teeth-cleaning routine is essential for good dental health. Follow these tips and you can help keep your kids’ teeth decay-free.

Toothbrushing tips 

It’s important to use a fluoride toothpaste, as this helps prevent and control tooth decay.

Children aged up to 3 years

• Start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first milk tooth breaks through (usually at around 6 months, but it can be earlier or later).
• Parents or carers should brush the teeth.
• Brush teeth twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
• Brush last thing at night before bed and on 1 other occasion.
• Use children’s fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check on the box) unless a dentist advises using a family toothpaste with higher levels of fluoride, such as between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm of fluoride.
• Use only a smear of toothpaste.
• Make sure children don’t eat or lick toothpaste from the tube.

Children aged 3 to 6 years

• Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
• Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.
• Encourage your child to brush their own teeth while supervising them.
• Use children’s fluoride toothpaste that contains 1,000ppm to 1,500ppm fluoride (check on the box).
• Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
• Spit out after brushing and don’t rinse – if you rinse, the fluoride won’t work as well.

Children aged 7 and over

• Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
• Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.
• Use fluoride toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm of fluoride (check on the box).
• Spit out after brushing and don’t rinse – if you rinse, the fluoride won’t work as well.

Children aged 7 and over should be able to brush their own teeth, but it’s still a good idea to watch them to make sure they brush properly and for about 2 minutes.

How to help children brush their teeth properly

• Guide your child’s hand so they can feel the correct movement.
• Use a mirror to help your child see exactly where the brush is cleaning their teeth.
• Use a small, soft toothbrush that is right for your child’s age.
• Brush your child’s teeth using small, circular movements.
• Remember to gently brush their gums and behind their teeth.
• Make tooth brushing as fun as possible by using an egg timer to time it for about 2 minutes.
• Don’t let children run around with a toothbrush in their mouth, as they may have an accident and hurt themselves.

Taking your child to the dentist

• NHS dental care for children is free.
• Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear, or before they are 12 months old. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can advise you on how to prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child’s mouth for the dentist to take a look at is useful practice for the future.
• When you visit the dentist, be positive about it and make the trip fun. This will stop your child worrying about future visits.
• Take your child for regular dental check-ups as advised by the dentist.

Find a dentist near you

Fluoride varnish and fissure sealants

• Fissure sealants can be done once your child’s permanent back teeth have started to come through (usually at the age of about 6 or 7) and again when the rest of their teeth come through between 11 and 14 years. This is where the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are covered with a special thin plastic coating to keep germs and food particles out of the grooves. The sealant protects teeth from decay and lasts up to 4 years.
• Fluoride varnish can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth. It involves painting a varnish that contains high levels of fluoride onto the surface of the tooth every 6 months to prevent decay. Some children may need this more often. It works by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay.
• From the age of 3, children should be offered fluoride varnish application at least twice a year. Younger children may also be offered this treatment if your dentist thinks they need it.

Ask your dentist about fluoride varnish or fissure sealing.